Growing Comfrey

by Shannon
(Memphis, Tn)

I love growing comfrey. Not only is it pretty with it's large leaves and little white blooms in late spring/early summer, it's also a great "green manure." Simply put several handfuls of leaves in a bucket of water and let them "simmer" for a week or so. Next time you want to fertilize your plants, open the container, move the leaves over so that you can gather some of the water in a container. Water your plants with it for a natural fertilizer!

Another neat thing about growing comfrey is that at one time, it was often called knitbone and had a reputation as the "healing herb" since it had a reputed value in healing bone fractures. The large leaves and the root were beaten and applied as a poultice to sprains, swellings, bruises, and sores. I wouldn't recommend this today without checking with a doctor first, but it is interesting non-the-less.